Eagles: Bamiro quickly gets up to speed

By BOB GROTZ, 21st Century Media

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

PHILADELPHIA – Chip Kelly likes to play fast.

That’s also how the Eagles’ new head coach recruits.

Offensive lineman Michael Bamiro barely knew he was ineligible for a redshirt year at Stony Brook University when the Eagles yanked the rookie free agent off the market with a three-year $1.486 million contract speaking to his potential as a fifth or sixth-round draft pick. The deal includes $248,270 guaranteed and was finalized one week before rookie camp started.

The courtship of Bamiro lasted barely a month. And there was another suitor hot on the trail of the 6-8, 339-pound natural right tackle.

The New York Giants put up big money and tried to leverage Bamiro into signing based on his years growing up a Giants fan.

Score one for Kelly, Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, general manager Howie Roseman and Tra Thomas, the former Eagle who discovered Bamiro working the youngster out at his 7 Deuce Sports gym.

“We thought it would be a better fit for Michael with the Eagles,” said agent Billy Conaty, who played center for six of his seven NFL seasons with the Buffalo Bills. “They really made a commitment. They were all on board with Mike and made a commitment and that says something. Mike is one of their guys. They chose Mike.”

Thomas provided the Eagles with a scouting report after putting Bamiro through a strenuous workout. If anyone knows linemen, it’s Thomas, the rock at left tackle who enjoyed Pro Bowl seasons with the Eagles. Another pro scout quietly echoed that assessment of Bamiro’s potential. Add a few pounds to Bamiro and he’s about the same size as Thomas during the latter’s playing days.

It’s early but Eagles center Jason Kelce has been impressed with what he’s seen of Bamiro, who started at right tackle for Stony Brook.

“You see a lot of great things and you see a lot of things he needs to work on,” Kelce said. “Physically he’s got everything. He’s an enormous man. I mean, I can field it when I’m holding the (blocking) pad and he hits it. You can feel the strength behind it. He’s got the long arms. He’s got big hands. He looks like he can move pretty well. Obviously it’s going to be a little different once the pads go on. We’ll see how good he plays with leverage and takes coaching. But he’s very impressive for a guy just coming in.”

For now, Bamiro is trying to catch up to teammates who have been getting instructions throughout the offseason. Even with the help of Thomas, the transition has been difficult.

“I’ve never really played that much out of no-huddle,” Bamiro said. “So that’s different for me. That’s a huge difference to me. I’ve got to adjust to that and adjust to how fast the pace is. It’s a big learning curve. It’s pretty much like going from high school to college again. Like going from crawling to running. But I’ll catch up.”

Bamiro says it’s only coincidence that he wears No. 72, that it was the next one up for an offensive lineman. Thomas wore that number.

As far as the Giants go, it’s safe to say Bamiro knows where his bread is buttered. Giants fan?